Davies' disappearing actThere was one question on everyone's lips at today's What the Papers Say Awards: what has happened to Independent on Sunday editor Tristan Davies? Has he stepped down? Working on special projects? Davies wasn't there, but Sindy deputy editor John Mullin was. He has been editing the paper for the past month and was smiling broadly, but meeting all questions about whether he had inherited the top job with a straight bat. However, he did sit next to Independent Newspapers editor-in-chief Simon Kelner for the lunch. Perhaps Kelner could shed some light on the matter? Alas not. He told Monkey: "We are here to have lunch, we are not here to be interviewed." If all your reporters accepted that for an answer, Simon, you would have nothing to put in your paper.

Vive la BBC3!BBC3 had a vote of support from an unlikely quarter today - the London correspondent for Le Monde, Marc Roche. Marc told the Voice of the Listener & Viewer conference this morning: "I wish France had a BBC3." Presumably it would be run by Danniell Cohen.

Preston's Perez habit Monkey has been wondering what the essential reading should be this season, and has decided to follow the example set by former Guardian editor Peter Preston. During a rather turgid session on press regulation at the Society of Editors conference today, Monkey was delighted to hear Preston 'fess up to his two favourite news sources. "I read the Drudge Report first thing every morning, because that's the most popular news site in America. And then I might turn to Perez Hilton." To PerezHilton.com? This is the same celebrity news site that this morning ran a story on how the facelift of celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe has finally stopped her looking "like a savaged asshole". "Isn't there too much talk about regulation? It's terribly boring," he went on. Quite.

MTV pulled out all the stops with its Europe Music Awards in Munich last night, flying in hundreds of guests from across the world. As well as the lavish main ceremony, featuring acts such as Mika and My Chemical Romance, the broadcaster also hosted a huge after party in an old aircraft hanger on a disused military airstrip. This featured a giant helter-skelter and a tequila bar, where enthusiastic staff could be seen pouring the liquid down revellers' throats. Organisers were sure to give at least one nod to the Bavarian host city, providing free bratwurst at the end of the night for hungry guests.

Last night Monkey headed to Number 30 St Mary's Axe in London, better known as the Gherkin, which played host to some stars from the US sci-fi import Heroes last night. Hayden Panettiere, Jack Coleman, Adrian Pasdar and Milo Ventimiglia, along with NBC Universal executive producer Dennis Hammer assembled at the top of the building to meet the British press. It was a very glamorous and impressive affair ... until the end. As Monkey's exclusive picture of the Hollywood superstars' departure shows, the mode of transport smacked more of old primary school swimming trips than the "Heroes World Tour" it was billed as. But NBC has promised that the tour will be carbon neutral, so a bunch of bananas to them for that. The glamorous tabloid favourite Hayden Pannettiere who plays Claire is the one in the red dress, by the way.

Last night was the Spectator's first summer party at its new Westminster home since leaving Doughty Street late last year, and it seemed everyone wanted to check out the grand new premises including prime minister Gordon Brown, who walked over from Downing Street.

Melvyn's sobering thoughtThe invites list to ITV drama boss Nick Elliott's retirement party last night read like a Who's Who of the telly world. Everyone from Lord Birt and Sir Christopher Bland, to Stephen Fry and Dempsey and Makepeace's Michael Brandon - yes, Monkey was excited too - was there. Even Alan Yentob turned up. But half an hour before the party started. Nick's chum Melvyn Bragg gave the main speech. After paying tribute to Nick's modesty, loyalty, "his bullshit detector", glittering career and "marathon lunches" - usually at The Ivy - Bragg revealed another attribute: "He's the only man I know who's never packed his own suitcase". Other things Monkey learned about Nick included the fact he hired Peter Mandelson at LWT and that his grandfather won the Victoria Cross. During a rip-roaring speech, Melvyn stumbled over his words only once. "I purposely haven't had a drink," he told the crowd at Kensington Roof Gardens."When I drink I'm perfectly clear!"

Two bad for Channel 4If you could hear an unusual clicking noise during the Bafta TV awards on BBC1 last night, fear not - your TV set is not about to go on the blink. It was just the sound of Channel 4 executives changing channels as the station won just two awards. Channel 4 started the evening with more nominations than any other channel - 20 - and ended up winning the same number of awards as Sky One. If you know of a particularly funny video on YouTube, now might be the time to send it to Kevin Lygo.

The greatest flyers of Fleet Street were in attendance at a packed Shafta awards ceremony last night. After a slap-up supper thanks to the almost-invisible sponsors Vodafone, and the screening of most of the Chelsea v Liverpool game, master of ceremonies Johnny Vaughan took to the stage, quoting Sean Hoare's wise words: "Fuck the facts, just quote a friend - the pub's open in 10 minutes."

What do you call an awards ceremony that lasts longer than the Oscars? That's right, the radio industry's Oscars - the Sony Radio Academy Awards. "This can be a long evening, particularly if you've not won anything," co-host Terry Wogan warned the audience at London's Grosvenor House Hotel last night. He's not kidding.

So to the Grosvenor House Hotel and the British Press Awards, reborn after a boycott last year by Associated Newspapers and the Telegraph Media Group - which didn't take too kindly to Press Gazette being run by Piers Morgan and Matthew Freud. The host for the evening, Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow, did a fine job railroading hacks from the mezzanine bar to the auditorium at the start of the evening, but of course there were stragglers. Two of the last were none other than Times editor Robert Thomson and Daily Telegraph editor Will Lewis, deep in conversation - sharing thoughts on podcasting, no doubt.

To the Royal Television Society Journalism Awards, where it was a good night for Sky, a great night for ITN and, er, the BBC was there as well. Still, at least the corporation's number crunchers can save a bit of extra cash by putting extension of the BBC News trophy cabinet on hold. It was a fact not lost on reporter Fergal Keane, who took to the stage to collect an award on behalf of cameraman Darren Conway. "As a BBC person it is quite a novelty to be coming up here tonight," he said. He wasn't kidding.